Archaeologica.org

For years, many archaeologists who uncovered ancient noisemakers dismissed them as toys. Museums relegated them to warehouses. But while most studies and exhibits of ancient cultures focus on how they looked, Velazquez said the noisemakers provide a rare glimpse into how they sounded. Hear some of the spine-tingling sounds of the ancient Aztecs »

"We've been looking at our ancient culture as if they were deaf and mute," he said. "But I think all of this is tied closely to what they did, how they thought."

Velazquez is part of a growing field of study that includes archaeologists, musicians and historians. Medical doctors are interested too, believing the Aztecs may have used sound to treat illnesses.

Noisemakers made of clay, turkey feathers, sugar cane, frog skins and other natural materials were an integral part of pre-Columbian life, found at nearly every Mayan site.

The Aztecs sounded the low, foghorn hum of conch shells at the start of ceremonies and possibly during wars to communicate strategies. Hunters likely used animal-shaped ocarinas to produce throaty grunts that lured deer.

The modern-day archaeologists who came up with the term Whistles of Death believe they were meant to help the deceased journey into the underworld, while tribes are said to have emitted terrifying sounds to fend off enemies, much like high-tech crowd-control devices available today.

dannan14 wrote:A good friend of mine is a sound healer. He is a didgeredoo player and maker. The instrument he uses for healing is a huge 14 footer. It can make a very deep, low frequency sound. It's like an hour of massage in just a few minutes.

Minimalist wrote:I know that when I had to listen to my son's guitar that it gave me a headache.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manuel_Noriega

Noriega fled during the attack and a manhunt ensued. He finally turned up in the Apostolic Nunciature, the Holy See's embassy in Panama, where he had taken refuge.

U.S. troops set up a perimeter outside this building, as any direct action on the embassy itself would have violated the customs of international law, including the Vienna Convention, as well as constituting an act of war on the Vatican and enraging Roman Catholics.

The troops guarding it instead used psychological warfare, attempting to force the defeated ruler out by using the continuous noise from a low flying helicopter and playing hard rock music and The Howard Stern Show outside the residence.[16] Reportedly the song "Panama" by Van Halen was played repeatedly, as was "I Fought The Law" by The Clash.

War Arrow wrote:Hmmm. Interesting idea. I'd honestly never considered this dimension of music - irrespective of whether or not anyone is genuinely healed, in the case of a digeridoo I can certainly understand why the sound it makes could be regarded as having such properties - it's a very 'physical' sound.

dannan14 wrote: After seeing and experiencing this process i've decided that it simply does not matter to me if there is a 'measurable' healing effect. It is psychologically, spiritually, and physically very relaxing.